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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

If you are having a caesarean....

187 replies

danceswithmonkeys · 22/09/2006 07:54

I've just made up a 'hints and tips' list for my friend who is having a caesarean soon (I've had two) if you want me to e-mail it to you let me know!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
mumtoblaire · 03/07/2010 09:56

5 weeks to go. Feeling rather huge now.

Have decided just to use Veet for bikini line and do it and my legs two days before Op.

Can't wait to meet this baby now I don't have to worry about method of delivery.

gailforce1 · 03/07/2010 18:55

Mumtoblaire - re ingrowing hairs, exfoliate regularly and then moisturise! Helps me as I used to have a problem.

mumtoblaire · 11/07/2010 21:54

Thanks I am on a de-fuzzing countdown.

mumtoblaire · 26/07/2010 11:44

8 DAYS TO GO!!

Rereading this thread so I don't forget anything, sorting out my bags again and trying to be super organised. If I don't then baby may come sooner and I am not ready....Thinking sods law!

Washing/ironing being done everyday and all floors hoovered everyday so that I can relax when I get home knowing I don't HAVE to do anything. Beds will be changed day before and fresh bedding left for DH to change day I am coming home(I love a fresh bed).

Dining table going to be set as changing/bathing station so I don't need to bend down.

BigBirdplus2 · 06/08/2010 09:15

Wow, so much useful info here! Thanks ladies! I'm due for an elective c section on 7th Sept as have twins and previous medical history. All your advice is going in and I will be re-reading as time gets nearer. Haven't packed my bag yet or got all the stuff yet so am hoping to have time over next few weeks. This site is the most useful so far. Thanks again!

adele0712 · 08/08/2010 19:33

Hi there, could you email me your hints and tips? i am having a c-section next month.
thanks

adele0712 · 08/08/2010 19:51

hiya could you email me the hints and tips of a c section. its my first and i am realy scared
thanks

maighdlin · 09/08/2010 13:41

havent read through them all in case i have duplicated.

warning this is rough but better be aware.

for about 24 hours post sec you will be lying on your back in bed. the lochia will pool in your womb/vagina and clot while your lying in bed. you will get up the next day to shower and everything will be dislodged. clots the size of plums will come out.

this happened to me and i completely freaked out. i knew about the lochia but not the clotting. just in case anyone else was not aware.

also never bother about dignity/pride. my lowest point was s*ing myself in bed. unlike most i had major diarrhoea after mine due to the voltarol pain meds. also took a reaction to the adhesive on the dressing.

varicoseveined · 16/01/2011 08:04

Am recovering from EMCS as I read this thread, some v useful tips :)

1944girl · 16/01/2011 18:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaMattoo · 06/02/2011 00:11

I had a c sec 8 months ago, and i still feel painful twinges from time to time. I made the mistake of lifting the infant carrier with the 3.5kg baby in it..for a very short distance..managed to split half the stitches and get an infection. This same side of the scar still causes pain from time to time. Just 'do not' lift weight..nothing more than a pillow or baby.

since i had a summer baby i the HV told me to:

  • use surgical swabs dipped in saline boiled water, to wipe scar and keep it clean.
  • use a hair dryer to dry it completely post shower
  • keep a clean tissue between the scar and the loose tummy skin that hangs over to absorb sweat etc.
  • neosporin powder clears up any fungal infections which you might get in warm weather.
TLCDoula · 06/02/2011 00:50

Great thread! :)

My tips are:

Buy big knickers (black only as they don't show blood stains!), Primarni, Matalan etc do packs of 5 or so dirt cheap). Much more comfy than disposable knickers & hold pads in nicely.

Eat fruit, bran flakes and ask for Lactulose as soon as you've had your baby. You won't be discharged until you've been and the codeine based painkillers they give you can make you constipated. If Lactulose doesn't work, Movicol is good too, works gently.

Drinks lots and have little snacks often to keep your energy up.

Don't freak out when the MW tells you to have a shower in the 2nd day and to remove your dressing yourself. I was terrified but the micropore dressing, once wet, came off easily.

Don't have too many visitors, I loved seeing my close family the afternoon after I'd had both sections, but the next day I really wasn't in the mood for the onslaught.

You may be surprised at how quickly you feel normal again. Don't underestimate yourself and do too much. I felt fine after 5 days & went shopping with DH. 5 hours later, on the phone to the out of hours surgery after I passed clots, I was told by the doctor, I'd done waaay too much too soon.

PenguinsMummy · 07/02/2011 14:02

This thread is fab!

Due to have DD3 by ELCS in 9 weeks time and am very worried but this thread has really helped.

Thanks ladies Smile

ckny1 · 07/02/2011 17:00

I'm also grateful for this thread, though am STILL not sure whether will have a cs (in 5 weeks!)

A friend of mine highly recommends NOT having general anaesthesia (which they my not administer in the UK anyway), and to ask someone in the room to communicate regularly with you during the procedure so that you are somewhat aware of what is going on, despite the groggy state (i.e., the importance of knowing when the baby is out, and even insisting that you or your husband hold/cuddle with him/her for a moment).

Just wanted to send a note to 1944girl that I often think of how lost I would have been if I'd had a baby before the Internet, and am in awe of you, my mom, and the millions of other mums in the world who were/are brave enough to go through this without the virtual support system!!! My mum doesn't even want to talk about it with me, I assume b/c the trauma was too great. And my boss from the former Soviet Union has some frighteningly hilarious stories to tell of her experiences!

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 07/02/2011 17:05

Haven't read the whole tread but wanted to say that, while I support requesting lactulose after your section, do NOT do what I did and spill it on your slippers. Apart from the fact that it doesn't help your constipation any whilst spilt on your slippers, it is vile sticky stuff which cannot be washed off at all. Ever. Get some new slippers.

clouiseg · 07/02/2011 17:22

Ask the midwives for a bedside cot!!!!

I saw a non C'section mum with a little cot which hooked on the side of the bed and demanded one straight away! (They are designed more for immobile post partum mums!)
The reason being that for the first 24 hours I couldn't get up & was sick of waiting for the MWs to answer my buzzer & pass me my baby!! SOOOOO much easier than the wheelie cots!

Grin
1944girl · 07/02/2011 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

goodmum123 · 07/02/2011 21:19

Great thread. I had a c-section 20 weeks ago and it went well but had bad case of pre-ec. Im still wearing massive pants as small pants sitting on the scar makes me fell yuk. I had a great midwife who advised hairdrying the scar after showering everyday and that was and still is excellent advise as it ensures the scar (and other bits Grin) are absolutely clean and dry before putting on underwear.

japhrimel · 08/02/2011 12:11

Sterile saline solution designed for contact lenses makes cleaning the wound less of a faff. I used that on cotton wool pads (that didn't leave any cotton wool behind).

sallytwinkle · 20/06/2011 21:06

Hi, after having an emergency c-section with my first child (undetected breech) and a elective c-section (also breech) with my second child, I have elected to have c-section again... after being scanned today at 28 weeks the baby isnt breech, does anyone know if I will be forced to have baby naturally if I go into labour early? I really do not want natural birth, and am finding it really worrying that I may be forced into it.

SympatheticConsultant · 20/06/2011 21:34

Hi DWM's,
From a real-time/need to know perspective that's a really good and practical list of tips for mum's facing a first time CS. Completely not the things we as Dr's tell expectant mums, but just as useful if not more so.
I'd like to use some of these for a new patient ammended Pt information leaflet at the RFree if that's ok with you !

MrsStevo · 22/06/2011 23:48

This is an awesome list - thank you so much! I have copied and pasted the relevant bits onto a word document and plan to make it 'look pretty' and then print it off!

AJH2007 · 25/06/2011 14:44

Great thread. New question: how long is it normally before you can have a shower after an ELCS? Thanks!

Highlander · 25/06/2011 15:32

you can shower as normal the next day.

It's really impt to be up and active ASAP (and by that I mean as soon as the spinal has completely worn off)

Pitmountainpony · 30/03/2012 01:32

Just bumping this as lots of useful stuff.
My tip .get your dh to bring in a bag of chilled chopped fresh fruit each day.....so nice.....and iced water in bottles.